BLR – Buyalski turns attention to London

MINSK (2012 Olympics) - Belarus coach Anatoly Buyalsky is hopeful that he can lead the women's team into the Olympic Games for the second straight time.
 
The national side played in Beijing two years ago, and the coach and his players have followed that up with fourth-place finishes at EuroBasket 2009 and at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.
 
They made their very first appearance at a World Championship when playing in Ostrava and Karlovy Vary.
 
"Of course, we will strive to get to the Olympics," Buyalsky said.
 
"But the result depends on many things.
 
"The girls will be coming off tough seasons.
 
"Many of them are now at new clubs and no one knows with what kind of mindset they will return to the national squad.
 
"In addition, injuries may intervene.
 
"For example, this year's team leader was to be Katsiaryna Snytsina but she never played in the Czech Republic (after an Achilles operation).
 
"If all goes well, though, we will start training on time and in good condition, then we will succeed."
 
Buyalski admits losing to the Czechs in overtime was a tough pill to swallow for his players.
 
He said they didn't have the ability to overcome the setback against Spain in the bronze medal game.
 
"Psychologically, it is very difficult to play in tournaments at such a high level after losing in the Semi-Finals," Buyalski said.
 
"If it's somehow possible to quickly recover the physical form, then getting back the mental focus is very difficult.
 
"The Spaniards also had already expected to lose in the Semi-Finals to the American women and were favored to win the bronze.
 
"We were like that three years ago at the European Championship."
 
Belarus had fallen to Spain in the Semi-Finals but hit back to beat Latvia in the battle for third place.
 
"This time, we competed until the very end in the Semi-Finals but in the game for third place, we just did not have enough emotion," he said to basket.by.
 
FIBA